PSAT PrepPSAT Prep

The Basics of the Reading The Basics of the Reading SectionSection

Critical Reading SectionCritical Reading Section Sentence Completion (13 questions)Sentence Completion (13 questions) Passage-Based Reading (35 questions)Passage-Based Reading (35 questions) Work on SCs first because they take less time to Work on SCs first because they take less time to

answer than PBRs.answer than PBRs. SCs go from easy to hard.SCs go from easy to hard. PBRs follow the logic of the passage.PBRs follow the logic of the passage. PBRs are FROM THE PASSAGE not what YOU THINK is PBRs are FROM THE PASSAGE not what YOU THINK is

right.right. Stick with a passage until you can answer as many Stick with a passage until you can answer as many

of the questions as you can; don’t go passage of the questions as you can; don’t go passage jumping. But don’t spend too much time on one jumping. But don’t spend too much time on one passage either.passage either.

Mark questions you’re unsure of so you can easily go Mark questions you’re unsure of so you can easily go back to it later.back to it later.

Sentence CompletionsSentence Completions

Each sentence below has one or two Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the words labeled A through E. Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, in the sentence, bestbest fits the meaning of fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.the sentence as a whole.

In other words: In other words: Complete the Complete the sentencesentence..

ExampleExample

Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would proposed a compromise that they felt would be ------ to both labor and management.be ------ to both labor and management.

Step 1: One blank at a time.Step 1: One blank at a time. Step 2: Guess at the blank then check Step 2: Guess at the blank then check

choices. Eliminate unwanteds.choices. Eliminate unwanteds. Step 3: Guess at blank two, repeat step 2.Step 3: Guess at blank two, repeat step 2. Step 4: Plug in and choose the right answer.Step 4: Plug in and choose the right answer. Step 5: Check it out.Step 5: Check it out.

ExampleExample

Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt proposed a compromise that they felt would be ------ to both labor and would be ------ to both labor and management.management.

(A) enforce . . useful(A) enforce . . useful (B) end . . divisive(B) end . . divisive (C) overcome . . unattractive(C) overcome . . unattractive (D) extend . . satisfactory(D) extend . . satisfactory (E) resolve . . acceptable(E) resolve . . acceptable

ExampleExample

Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt proposed a compromise that they felt would be ------ to both labor and would be ------ to both labor and management.management.

(B) end . . divisive(B) end . . divisive (C) overcome . . unattractive(C) overcome . . unattractive (E) resolve . . acceptable(E) resolve . . acceptable

ExampleExample

Hoping to Hoping to resolveresolve the dispute, the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be that they felt would be acceptableacceptable to to both labor and management.both labor and management.

Check it out: Does it make sense?Check it out: Does it make sense? You’re done.You’re done.

Passage-Based ReadingPassage-Based Reading

The passages below are followed by The passages below are followed by questions based on their content; questions based on their content; questions following a pair of related questions following a pair of related passages may also be based on the passages may also be based on the relationship between the paired relationship between the paired passages. Answer the questions on the passages. Answer the questions on the basis of what is basis of what is statedstated or or impliedimplied in the in the passages and in an introductory material passages and in an introductory material that may be provided.that may be provided.

In other words: Answer questions based In other words: Answer questions based solely on reading passages.solely on reading passages.

Test TipsTest Tips

Short passages (Bum Rush)Short passages (Bum Rush) Step 1: Start with question stem.Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 2: Read passage until you find answer.Step 2: Read passage until you find answer. Step 3: Scan answer choices and choose the right Step 3: Scan answer choices and choose the right

answer.answer. Long passage (Divide and Conquer)Long passage (Divide and Conquer)

Step 1: Start with passage.Step 1: Start with passage. Step 2: Outline passage in the margins. Draw lines Step 2: Outline passage in the margins. Draw lines

on paper separating passage. Put main idea (MI) of on paper separating passage. Put main idea (MI) of each paragraph in each passage.each paragraph in each passage.

Step 3: Read question stem; refer to MI note.Step 3: Read question stem; refer to MI note. Step 4: Read that paragraph from the passage.Step 4: Read that paragraph from the passage. Step 5: Scan answer choices; choose the right Step 5: Scan answer choices; choose the right

answer.answer.

Test TipsTest Tips

Two passages (Double Trouble Triage)Two passages (Double Trouble Triage) Step 1: Start with question stem.Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 2: Triage. Questions about both Step 2: Triage. Questions about both

passages save last. Start with questions passages save last. Start with questions about one or the other passage.about one or the other passage.

Step 3: Refer back to Short Passage tips.Step 3: Refer back to Short Passage tips. Step 4: By the time you’re done with Step Step 4: By the time you’re done with Step

3, you’ve probably read both passages. 3, you’ve probably read both passages. Answer questions about both passages.Answer questions about both passages.

When in doubt…When in doubt…

Start with the question stem.Start with the question stem. Determine what the question is asking.Determine what the question is asking. Answer the d@mn question!Answer the d@mn question! Remember, the answer is staring right Remember, the answer is staring right

at you. You just have to find it.at you. You just have to find it. When all else fails, eliminate as many When all else fails, eliminate as many

of the choices as you can and guess of the choices as you can and guess the best possible answer.the best possible answer.

Writing Skills SectionWriting Skills Section

Improving Sentences (20 questions)Improving Sentences (20 questions) Identifying Sentence Errors (14 Identifying Sentence Errors (14

questions)questions) Improving Paragraphs (5 questions)Improving Paragraphs (5 questions) Remember, effective writing (1) is Remember, effective writing (1) is

consistent, (2) expresses ideas consistent, (2) expresses ideas logically, (3) is precise and clear, and logically, (3) is precise and clear, and (4) follows conventions.(4) follows conventions.

Improving SentencesImproving Sentences

The following sentences test correctness and The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A; if not, of the alternatives, select choice A; if not, select one of the other choices.select one of the other choices.

In other words: Determine if the underlined In other words: Determine if the underlined part is wrong. If not, choose A. If so, choose part is wrong. If not, choose A. If so, choose the correct editing choice.the correct editing choice.

Identifying Sentence ErrorsIdentifying Sentence Errors

The following sentences test your ability to The following sentences test your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. Each recognize grammar and usage errors. Each sentence contains either a single error or no sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice E. In choosing answers, follow select choice E. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standards written English.the requirements of standards written English.

In other words: Determine if sentence is In other words: Determine if sentence is wrong. If not, choose E. If so, choose the wrong. If not, choose E. If so, choose the error.error.

Improving ParagraphsImproving Paragraphs

The following passage is an early draft of an The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten.rewritten.

Read the passage and select the best answers for Read the passage and select the best answers for the question that follow. Some questions are the question that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.written English.

In other words: Something might be wrong with In other words: Something might be wrong with the draft. Determine it by answering the question.the draft. Determine it by answering the question.

Timing and ScoringTiming and Scoring

Reading – 25mins; Writing – 30minsReading – 25mins; Writing – 30mins Each correct answer gets you 1 point.Each correct answer gets you 1 point. Omitting questions gets you no point.Omitting questions gets you no point. Wrong answers makes you lose a Wrong answers makes you lose a

quarter (1/4) of a point.quarter (1/4) of a point. In other words: Make good use of your In other words: Make good use of your

time. Answer as many questions as time. Answer as many questions as you can, especially to ones you know you can, especially to ones you know the answer to 100%. It’s okay to omit the answer to 100%. It’s okay to omit questions you’re 100% unsure of, but questions you’re 100% unsure of, but don’t omit too much.don’t omit too much.

Before Karen Chin’s research, scientists assumed that the Before Karen Chin’s research, scientists assumed that the value of evidence preserved in the fossils called coprolites value of evidence preserved in the fossils called coprolites

was too ------ to warrant the effort of ------.was too ------ to warrant the effort of ------.

(a) unpredictable . . Transformation(a) unpredictable . . Transformation (b) superlative . . Examination(b) superlative . . Examination © conventional . . Eradication© conventional . . Eradication (d) relevant . . Synthesis(d) relevant . . Synthesis (e) dubious . . analysis(e) dubious . . analysis

Greta praised the novel for its ------, claiming it depicted Greta praised the novel for its ------, claiming it depicted reality so vividly that it seemed more like fact than fiction.reality so vividly that it seemed more like fact than fiction.

(a) transcendence(a) transcendence (b) romanticism(b) romanticism © impenetrability© impenetrability (d) loquacity(d) loquacity (e) verisimilitude(e) verisimilitude